This is the newest summary of the ongoing monthly "Astounding Pulp Adventures!" miniatures sessions, played at Alternate Universe gameshop in Pueblo, Colorado. We use homebrewed rules based loosely on Howard Whitehouse's "Astounding Tales" rules. Sorry, I forgot the camera again! Links to previous month's sessions can be found below:
October: Pirate Zombies of the Desert TMP link
September: Showdown in Motor City TMP link
August: Boneyard Blues TMP link
July: Chichen Congo, Jungle of Terror TMP link
June: Devastation in Berlin TMP link
A strange fellow is found struck by a car on a newly built highway, which cuts through the fringes of an unexplored swamp in Louisiana. Though the fellow is an adult, he stands only 4 feet tall, has pale white skin, and savage features. Since he is totally uncivilized and speaks no known languages, it is speculated that perhaps he is some sort of "wild child" raised by opposums. Unfortunately, he escapes back into the bayou before futher research can be conducted. Evelyn, the spunky reporter, decides to fly down and investigate the story. Given her past history of getting herself kidnapped, the paper's gruff but fatherly editor insists on accompanying her, and taking along a small goon-squad of reporters.
Rumors of the "possum-man" reach Victor Enrique Fernando Pantera, the self proclaimed jaguar-king of the Yucatan, twice descended of Christ, rightful ruler of France and Mexico, champion on the new Aztec empire, and licensed chiropractor. Avid readers might also recall that Pantera is also currently possessed by the ancient serpent god Yig. Yig suspects that the possum-folk are degenerate humans, whose downfall comes from generations of dwelling near a powerful ancient artifact, and Yig desires to own such an artifact for his own purposes. As such, he has Pantera send a well armed search party to recover it. The most competent people that Pantera can locate are 3 squads of spikey-helmeted german troops, who are still hanging around Mexico after a "playtesting era" excursion against cowboys on the Texas border.
Unbeknownst to everyone, a group of chtulu-worshiping cultists had taken up residence in the swamp, compelled by strange dreams. Most of these cultists had been consumed by scaly fish-people "deep ones" which had accompanied them, though the few that remained had started an intricate and prolonged, dark ceremony in the depths of the bayou.
The stage is thus set: Savage Albino Pygmies (Kallista figures) loosely aligned with Cthulu-worshiping Deep Ones (Revirsco figures), versus Spunky Reporters (Murch, Barber, and a few old Shadowrun figures) looking for a scoop, even more loosely aligned with spikey-helmeted Germans (Old Glory) working in the hire of a Mezo-American demi-god. All to take place on a 4' x6' swampy, sticky, game table. Anyone who has tried using the Hobby Lobby two-part glass gell for water terraining will really understand whow sticky a swamp can get…
The scene starts out with German troops assaulting an isolated patrol of Deep Ones, who had been investigating a graveyard on the fringe of the board. Using superior firepower and Kaiser-inspired efficiency, the pickelhaubes whittle down the scaly demons with minimal difficulty. They actually have more concern over keeping up with their own roving HQ, which is delivery truck driven by a myoptic spaniard.
The rest of the Deep Ones remain hidden in the swamp, waiting for their chance at a ambush.
The news-hounds start by interviewing a few local residents, accidentally causing one xenophobic fellow to blow himself and his shack to smithereens with the dynamite he had strapped about his chest. Evelyn does manage to get a lead, however, and sets out to the possom-folk village on an isolated island.
The possom folk send an exploratory group towards the Germans, keep a squad hidden in a shack for ambush purposes, and send their final squad into the unguarded Deep One HQ. At the latter location they find a single human cultist performing ceremonies over a carved statue of the Great Old One.
The Germans fend of an attack by Possum Folk, and search a mauselem in the graveyard, finding an ancient carved Olmec head. This does not match the description of the object they were sent to find, but they take note of it anyway.
The remaining Deep Ones raise out of the swamp to assault Evelyn and her group. They need to gain human sacrafices to complete their ritual, and the picklehaubes are proving to be too tough of a target. The hidden Possum Folk support the attack by ambushing to the rear, creating double envelopment. The surrounded news-hounds hold their ground by luck and courage, while Evelyn get some great photographs (almost filling her roll of film).
The Germans are ready to move off the fringes of the board and make their assault on the Deep One HQ, however, the conniving Possum-Folk beat them to the punch. They steal the Chtulu statue for themselves, and carry it off to their village— betraying their watery allies.
Just as the reporters have eliminated the ambushing Deep Ones (with substantial help from German supporting fire), the Possum-Folk in their village of huts have used the Chthulhu statue to summon two gigantic (50 scale feet) tentacles from the swamp. The Germans decide to "make do" with the Olmec head rather than pressing forward, and Evelyn rushes forward to get a photograph of the unearthly tentacles (thus finally finishing her roll of film).
The Director calls "Cut!" and the story wraps up as follows: the last surviving human cultist had been compelled by Ebon Marsh to open a gateway to allow him to return from the dreamwold to the world of waking men. Since insufficent human sacrafice had been obtained by the Deep Ones, the ceremony went slightly awry. Instead of Ebon, the Cthulhu faction had managed to summon Ebon's younger brother "Skippy" in the form of an tiny octopus headed infant. The cultist faction's next move might be recoving the ancient idol from the possum folk, or it might be acquiring diapers for the cute litle monstrosity. Evelyn gets a great shot of the unearthly tentacles, finally finishing the roll of film she had started back in Berlin. Her fatherly editor rushesh forward to save her, but is captured by possum folk. Due to his heroic efforts, she escapes the swamp, but drops her camera on the way out! Will she be forced to decide between recovering her camera or saving her editor? The German mercenaries return to the Yucatan with the wrong object of power, an ancient Olmec head. Avid readers will recall that these carved heads can supress the power of ancient gods. Perhaps this will serve as an oppurtunity for the Jaguar King to throw off the domination by Yig? In any event, the pickelhaubes have made a reputation for themselves and are ready for their next exciting adventure. Finally, the Possom-Folk have obtained a relic of ancient power (by stabbing the cultists in the back) and a gruff but fatherly hostage. Do they ascend to be featured in future stories, or remain hidden in their isolated swamp? Stay tuned next month for the anwers to these (or to totally unrelated) exciting questions…
is back from Council of Five Nations.
